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% THE GLASS FACTORY. %
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,,.-\%%#@# SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% AND A GIFT SHOP. %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# CONSIDERED POOR. #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% SOME ARE SHATTERED. %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% %% %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ %% %% \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% ------- % % ------- %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% %% %% %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# %% #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# LIT FROM BEHIND. #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# %% #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## %% %% ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# ------- % % ------- #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ %% %% @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# %% #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## FLOOR. ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% BECOME STILL. %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ %% \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% %% %% %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% ------- % % ------- %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# %% %% #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ %% @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, #%%\-.,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.-\ SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, \-.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.-\% AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. %\-.,,,,,,
,,,,,.-\%% %%\-.,,,,,
,,,,.-\%%# SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER #%%\-.,,,,
,,,.-\%%#@ THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK @#%%\-.,,,
,,.-\%%#@# GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND #@#%%\-.,,
,.-\%%#@## I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE ##@#%%\-.,
,,.-\%%#@# THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? #@#%%\-.,,
,,,.-\%%#@ @#%%\-.,,,
,,,,.-\%%# I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. #%%\-.,,,,
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